Inking device



March 18, 1930. E, IECKLAND ET AL INKING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed.Aug. 12 1925 March 18, 1930.

E. O. ECKLAND ET AL INKING DEVICE Filed Aug. 12 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IPatented Mar. 18, 1930 UNITED. STATES PATENT oFFicE EMIL O. ECKLAND ANDWALTER H. YOUNG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS IN'KING DEVICE Application filedAugust 12, 1925. Serial No. 49,748.

The invention relates broadly to inking devices, and particularly to aninking device adapted to be used on typewriters or the like forcontinuously feeding ink to the typewriter ribbon in the operation ofthe typewriter.

Another object of theinvention is to pro-g vide an inking device fortypewriters and the like which will be in the form of an accessory orattachment and which readily can be adapted to standard machines withminimum difficulty and expense.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved distributor,arranged to engage with the ribbon, which will feed a properly graduatedand distributed amount of ink thereto in a continuous intermittentmanner. and which will interrupt all feed of ink to the ribbon when themachine is not in operation. This distributor is also characterized by aunique construction which pre vents any accumulation of ink on the topof the distributor.

Another objectof the invention is to rovide a feedin mechanism,characterize by a plurality of ink conveying pockets which apportionsthe quantity of ink transferred to the distributing member. I

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved constructionof adjustable Lviper for cooperation with the feeding mem- Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a container large enough to carrya sufficient supply of ink and so formed at one ofits corners as toclear the type bars during the operation of the typewriter.

Another object of the invention is to mount the device for springpressedpivotal motion, whereby the distributing member is resiliently heldagainst the typewriter ribbon.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an inking devicewhich will be free running in action and which will carry the inksubstantially through a right angle path from the surface of the ink tothe surface of the ribbon.

The foregoing and such other objects and advantages as may be pointedout or appear as this description proceeds are attained in thestructural embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it beingunderstood that this is merely an exemplary embodiment.

In these drawings:

Fig.

l'is a fragmentary plan view of a conventional typewriter showingthe'device of the present invention operatively connected therewith.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the typewriter showingthe device in. operative position.

Fig.

3 shows a perspective view of the device at an enlarged scale inengagement with the typewriter ribbon.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the device taken on the line 44 ofFig. 1.

Fig.

5 is a transverse section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig.

which 6 is a perspective view of the bracket supports the device, 7 is asectional view through the typewriter frame showing the inking device inend elevation, and

Fig.

8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modified construction.

Referring to F 1g. 1. 11 1s a conventional typewriter frame on which theribbon spools 12 and 12' are rotatably mounted by means of brackets 13and 13 and are provided with tension producing rollersl i for the ribbon15. In the usual typewriter construction, the frame 11 is generallyprovided with a cross bar 16 extending across the front of the machine.

Directly below this cross bar. the

frame 11 is generally provided with frame extensions or an arcuate frontplate 11' forming part of a bed for the type bars 17. Depending upon theparticular style and construction of machine, in some instances, it maybe desirable to mount the present inking devices upon the front frameportion 11' and in other instances upon the front cross bar 16, or evenupon the side members of the frame. In the present disclosure we haveshown these inking devices mounted on the front plate portion 11' of thetypewriter frame.

These inking attachments are each designated 19 in their entireties.either one or two of these devices being employed in each machine. Inorder that the ribbon be inkable V to both extreme ends there arepreferably to the typewriter.

two of the present attachments mounted on each machine, each beinglocated'to engage the ribbon below its longitudinal center to avoidfeeding the ribbon at a point where the type strikes and near one ribbonspool 12 and preferably at the point where the ribbon passes over thetension roller 14 thus getting the best results. The two devices aresubstan: tial duplicates with the exception that the relationship of theparts is reversed for mounting on the opposite sides of the ma chine,and consequently only one of the units will be described.

Each attachment is supported on a bracket 20 having a verticallyextending portion 20 which is apertured at one end for receiving a screw21'by which the bracket is fastened The mounting of the inkingattachment therefore merely involves the drilling and tapping of a holefor the screw 21 or a screw forming a part of the machine may preferablybe used. The horizontally extending portion 20 of the bracket carriestwo upwardly extending spaced pins 22 and 23. The ink receptacle and itsassociated ink transferring mechanism are mounted on this bracket 20 forpivotal-movement as a unit about the pin 22.

The ink receptacle or container 24 preferably consists of a smallrectangular tank substantially closed on all sides. Extending from therear end of this tank is a flange 24 for mounting on the supportingbracket 20. Beaded over in an aperture in, this flange is a thimble orsleeve 25 which slips downover the pin 22 and forms a bearing for theswinging ink receptacle 24. Adjacent this sleeve 25. the flange 24 isprovided with an enlarged hole or elongated slot 26 which fits over theother pin 23, The play of the pin in this opening permits the necessaryangular movement of the receptacle 24, but

affords a limiting stop for this movement. A helical spring 27 is coiledaround the sleeve or thimble25 and has one end bearing against I the endof the tank and the other end bearing in an annular groove 28 in theupper end of the pin 23. This spring is effective to swing thereceptacle for yieldingly holding the ink transferring mechanism againstthe ribbon;

Referring now to the construction of this a duced end 32 of a pivot pin32 which is riveted or soldered in the side wall of the receptacle. Awire spring 33 having its free end bearing against the side of the disc31 holds this disc against the shoulder 32' at the inner end, of thereducedportion 32". This construction simplifies and cheapens theassembly of the unit, and permits of the ready removal of the disc fromthe pivot pin 32 for substitution or repair. It will also be noted thatthe entire receptacle 24 can bequickly lifted off the two pins 22 and23.

which is apertured to receive a fastening screw 36 by which the wipingfinger is socured to the top wall of the receptacle. The

other end of the wire spring 33 is preferably I coiled around thisscrew. under the head thereof. By loosening this screw the lateralpressure of the spring 33 against the side of the feeding disc can beadjusted, and the spacing of the wiping finger from the other side-0fthe disc can be adjusted. In actual practice we prefer to have thewiping finger spaced a small fraction of an inch from the side of thefeeding disc.

The ink which is raised from the receptacle 24 istransferred to adistributing wheel 38, which in turn transfers it to the ribbon 15. Inthe embodiment shown in Figure 5, this wheel is formed with a relativelylong hub 39 which is journaled on a pivot pin 41 riveted in the top wallof the receptacle 24 and which is of proper height to dispose theperiphery of the distributing wheel adjacent the periphery of thefeeding disc 31. A small split ring 42 is sprung on the upper end ofthe.pivot pin 41 to hold the distributing wheel in place. v

As clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, the periphery of the distributingwheel 38 is formed with pointed teeth 44 which reduce and proportion thequantity of ink trans-' ferred to theribbon 15. These teeth mesh withthe lateral pockets 45formed in the side of the feeding disc 31, thesepockets consisting of small cylindrical or spherical recesses formed inone side of the disc. In the intermittent advancement of the ribbon towhich the distributing wheel 38 is responsive for its actuationathe saidwheel is slowly rotated and in turn serves to drive the feeding disc 31.As this disc rotates, each pocket 45 entrains a certain definite amountof ink and raises this ink up to the pointed teeth on the distributingwheel. Herethis ink is transferred to these pointed teeth and is thencarried around on these teeth into contact with the ribbon 15. The teethpreferably contact with the ribbon below or onia substantially medialline as indicated in Figure 3, so that the ink will distribute itselfuniformly over the width of the ribbon by capillary attraction. Thepointed shape of the teeth 44 and the resilient pressure of the spring27 insures penetration of the ink in 70 Extending across the other faceof the disc teeth with the ribbon is preferably directly opposite thetension roller 14.

The pressure of the spring wire 33, effective laterally 011 the face ofthe feeding wheel 31. is borne by the shoulder 32 on the pivot pin 32and imposes no pressure at the point of mesh of the two wheels whichmight retard their easy rotation.

It will be observed from Figures 3 and 5 that the teeth it have theirupper surfaces cut away to form relatively abrupt shoulders 46 adjacentthe roots of the teeth. These shoulders prevent the ink from working upover the top of the distributing wheel, which would be objectionable, asit might encrust on the bearing surfaces of the pivot pin ll and makethe distributing wheel hard to revolve.

111 Figure 8, we have shown a slightly modified construction. In thisform the web portion of the distributing wheel is of conical form,extending down from the toothed outer annulus to the base of the hub 39.Holes 47 are formed in this conical web portion for precipitating anyink flowing down in this conical web portion. Such ink is dischargedinto a receptacle or trough formed around this portion of the wheel byvertical flanges 48 which close off a portion of the upper surface ofthe receptacle extending over to the slot 29. Holes 49 may be providedin the bottom of this overflow receptacle for draining such excess inkback into the main receptacle 24. Thus no excess ink. can accumulate onthe bearing surfaces of the pivot 41.

For installation in certain makes of typewriterswhere the clearancebetween the path of the type bars and the ribbon spools is small, thelower inner corner of the ink receptacle may be beveled off as indicatedat 51. The receptacle 24 may be refilled through the slot or through afront opening 52.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the present device provides adirect mechanical transfer of the ink from an ink receptacle to theribbon without imposing any appreciable retardation to the motion of theribbon. Prior art devices employing wicks and other elements which arenot free-running impose an objectionable retardation to the motion ofthe ribbon. Because the inking face of the ribbon is upstanding in asubstantially vertical plane and the surface of the ink lies in ahorizontal plane, the transfer of the ink is literally around a rightangle corner, which is performed very efficaciously by the presentfeeding wheel and distributing wheel rotating in planes at right anglesto eaclrother.

lVe do not intend to be limited to the specific details herein shown anddescribed, as it will be evident that the essential features of theinvention can be practiced in other embodiments within the scope of theclaims.

\Ve claim:

1. The combination with a printing mas chine comprising a ribboncooperating with the type characters in making the printing impressions,of an inking device for the ribbon comprising a bracket, adapted to besupported by the machine, an ink receptacle pivotally supported on saidbracket, ink transferring mechanism comprising a member dipping in saidreceptacle and another member conveying ink from the first named memberto the ribbon, and spring means operating to swing said receptacle andsaid transferring mechanism to hold the latter resiliently in contactwith the ribbon.

Q. The combination with a printing machine having a ribbon forcooperating with the type characters, of an inking device for saidribbon comprising an ink receptacle, a feeding wheel rotating in saidreceptacle, said feeding wheel having a plurality of pockets formed inthe side thereof, and a distributing wheel having teeth engaging in saidpockets 4 for transferring the ink therefrom to the ribbon.

3. The combination with a printing machine having a ribbon forcooperating with the type characters, of an inking device for saidribbon comprising an ink receptacle, a.

feeding wheel rotating in said receptacle,

said feeding wheel having a plurality of pockets formed in the sidethereof, adistributing wheel having teeth engaging in said pockets fortransferring the ink therefrom to the ribbon, and spring-meansyieldingly holding said distributing wheel against said ribbon.

4. The combination with a printing machine, having a ribbon forcooperating with the type characters, of an inking device for saidribbon comprising an ink receptacle, a feeding wheel rotating in saidreceptacle, said feeding wheel having a plurality of'pockets formed inthe side thereof, a distributing wheel having teeth engaging in saidpockets for transferring the ink therefrom to the ribbon, and springmeans for moving said receptacle to hold said distributing wheel againstsaid ribbon.

5. The combination with a printing ma chine, having a ribbon forcooperating with the type characters, of an inking device for saidribbon comprising an ink receptacle, a feeding wheel rotating in saidreceptacle, said feeding wheel'having a plurality of pockets formed inthe side thereof, a pivot, and a distributing wheel on said pivot havingteeth engaging in said pockets for transferringthe ink therefrom to theribbon, said distributing wheel having angular surfaces for preventing aflow of ink into contact with the bearing surfaces of said pivot.

6. The combination with a printing machine employing a typewriterribbon, of an inking attachment for inking said. ribbon comprising anink receptacle, and ink transferring mechanism comprising a toothedwheel having means thereon to prevent the ink from reaching the bearingsurfaces of said wheel.

7. The combination with a typewriter having a typewriter ribboncooperating with the type bars, of an inking device for the ribboncomprising a support, an ink receptacle on said support mechanism fortrans- .said' opening, a bearing shoulderfor one side of said'lift, adistributor arranged to engage said lift, a spring engaging said liftholdingit in contact with said bearing shoulder,

" and a wiper engaging theopposite side of the lift arranged to keepsaid lift clean and to prevent an excess of ink-being carried to thedistributor. I

10. In an inking device, a bracket, a receptacle rotatably mounted onsaid bracket, means for limiting its angle of rotation, a lift rotatablymounted in operative relation with the receptacle, and a distributoroperatively associated with said lift.

11. In an inking device adapted for inking a typewriter ribbon, abracket, a plurality of pins on said bracket, an apertured receptaclecarrying a bearing engaging one of said pins, the other of said pinsengaging..said aperture to provide .means for limiting the angle ofrotation of said receptacle with reengaging said receptacle andthe otherend vis spect to said bracket, yielding means engaging said bracket andcontainer tending to rotatesaid container, and means communicating withthe inside of said container and the typewriter ribbon whereby the inkis uniformly distributed on said. ribbon.

12. In an inking device, a bracket adapted to be secured to atypewriter, a plurality of upstanding pins on said bracket one of whichis provided with a groove, in combination with a receptacle having aflange provided with two apertures therein, a tubular member secured toone of said apertures arranged to bear on one of said pins, the other orgrooved pin extending through the other of said apertures, a springsurrounding said tubular member and having one of its ends registeringwith the groove in said pin, whereby saidj'receptacleand said bracketare held yieldin'gly withrelation to each other, a. distributorrotatably mounted on said con tainer adapted to be driven by saidtypewriter ribbon, a lift adapted to engage said distributor andextending into the receptacle, a spring holding said lift anddistributor in operatve engagement with each other and a scraperarranged to engage the lift.

13. In an inking device, an ink receptacle, a lift rotatably mounted insaid receptacle,

a distributor engaging said lift, and teeth;

formed on said distributor of less thickness than the distributorproper.

14. In a typewriter comprising a typewriter ribbon having its inkingface disposed in a substantially vertical plane, anink receptacle, andink transferring mechanism dipping into said receptacle from the topthereof and operating to raise the ink and convey it through asubstantially right angle path to a part of the vertical face of saidribbon below its longitudinal center.

15., In a typewriter, the combination of a frame, a bank of type barssupported by said frame, a ribbon spool supported-by said frame, aribbon on said spool, an ink receptacle supported by said frame in aposition above said bank of keys and adjacent said ribbon, and meansresponsive to the feed of the ribbon for transferring ink from'saidreceptacle to said ribbon below the part of ribbon that the typestrikes.

16. A device of the class described comprising a ribbon; a receptaclehaving a feeding wheel mounted thereon associated with said ribbon andmounted to move toward and away from the same, distributor means mountedon said receptacle to contact with said ribbon. and transfer materialfrom said feeding wheel to said ribbon; and a spring yieldingly pressingsaid receptacle toward said ribbon to effect yielding contact betweensaid ribbon and said transfer means.

17. A device of the class described comprising a ribbon; a receptacleassociated with said ribbon; a feeding wheel rotatably mounted on saidreceptacle and having a plurality of pockets formed in the side thereof;and a distributing wheel having teeth engaging in said pockets andcontacting with said ribbon. 1

18. "The combination with a typewriter ribbon, of automatic inking meanscontacting with, and transferring ink to said ribbon at regularintervals ona line below its longitudinal center. v

19. The combination with a typewriter ribbon, of inking means thereforcomprising a toothed transfer wheel contacting with said ribbon atisolated points, and means for supplying ink to the teeth of said wheel.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatu-res at 10 S. La Salle St.,Otis Bldg.,, Chicago, Ill;

' EMIL O. ECKLAND.

WALTER H. YOUNG.

